Zimbabwe president witnesses start of Hwange Thermal Power Station Expansion Project

The Hwange Thermal Power Station Expansion Project began construction on June 27 and was witnessed by top officials from Zimbabwe and China, including Mnangagwa, President of Zimbabwe, and Huang Ping, Chinese ambassador to Zimbabwe.

The project is the largest thermal power project undertaken by a Chinese company in Zimbabwe as well as the largest energy infrastructure project since the country gained independence.

Liang Jun, vice-general manager of POWERCHINA International Group, said that the project will be completed by 2022 and will greatly alleviate the electricity shortage Zimbabwe is currently facing. The project adopts advanced high-capacity and subcritical unit technology, which can save more energy for the country.

Mnangagwa expressed his gratitude to China in his speech. He noted that the project, together with the Kariba South Bank Hydropower Station built by POWERCHINA in March, perfectly embody the friendship between the two countries. The president also pledged that Zimbabwe will provide more convenience to foreign investors and seek mutually beneficial sustainable development.

Huang Ping also said that the Chinese government will further support Zimbabwe's development and construction and look for more cooperation opportunities in different sectors.

Situated in the coal-producing area 800 kilometers away from Zimbabwe's capital, the Hwange Thermal Power Station is equipped with six machine sets and currently has a generating capacity of just 500,000 kilowatts.

POWERCHINA and the Government of Zimbabwe signed a $1.489 billion agreement in December 2015 to expand the station’s electrical supply capacity.

When the project is completed, the station will have a total installed capacity of 152 million kilowatts and the electrical supply capacity will be increased by 70 percent.

The project is the country’s largest infrastructure project in the last 30 years and will create more than 3,000 jobs for locals, playing an important role in promoting local economic development.

Mnangagwa, President of Zimbabwe, delivers a speech at the launching ceremony for the Hwange Thermal Power Station Expansion Project on June 27. [Photo/POWERCHINA]

POWERCHINA and the Government of Zimbabwe sign an agreement on the Hwange Thermal Power Station Expansion Project on Dec 1 in 2015. [Photo/POWERCHINA]